Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr Predictions: ‘El Gato’ takes on another world class foe

Jack Catterall takes a step closer to the top this Saturday, February as he takes on Arnold Barboza Jr. The vacant WBO interim super lightweight belt will be on the line. The Co-op Live Arena will host the bout with DAZN screening the event live.

Here are my Catterall vs Barboza Jr. predictions ahead of this world-class main event.

Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr. Odds

Catterall is 4/11 to become the first man to defeat Barboza as a professional. The American is 9/4 to pull off the away win while a draw is priced at 16/1.

Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr. Fight Preview

Interim belts are often a garish accoutrement that only serves to add to boxing’s championship confusion. But sometimes a fight comes along that deserves to crown a number-one contender for one of the big belts. 

If any two super lightweights deserve to scrap it out to be next in line for a world title shot, it is Catterall and Barboza. 

Catterall is at risk of becoming the 140lb Dillian Whyte. A while back, ‘The Body Snatcher’ fought his way to the top of the WBC rankings. He was kept waiting for years on end for a title shot. Eventually, he lost by knockout to Alexander Povetkin in a fight he never should have had to take. The fact that result has been struck off years later due to the possibility that the Russian was on performance enhancers only adds to the sense of injustice.

Catterall has been on the cusp of world belts for years. Many would tell you he should have won the full set by now. Catterall lost in an undisputed title challenge to Josh Taylor back in February 2022. But outside of the immediate Taylor circle, you are unlikely to find anyone who thought Catterall deserved to lose that decision. The split nod in Taylor’s favour has been one of the most openly reviled judge’s calls in recent memory.

Catterall would get his revenge in a much-delayed rematch that eventually took place over two years later. By that point, Taylor had either been stripped of, or lost, all his super lightweight crowns. If the lack of titles blunted the rematch’s impact, Catterall’s performance was superb. When ‘El Gato’ was finished, there was no doubt who the better man was and, perhaps, who he had always been.

There have been other victories for Catterall too, each sold as the one that would put him in line for a deserved second title shot. Darragh Foley, Jorge Linares and Regis Prograis have all fallen. Boxes have been ticked. And still, Catterall enters a fight without a genuine world title on the line.

It is a tough assignment. Barboza is one of the best fighters in this division. One wonders how Catterall ended up here. Has he not proved his worth? Have the mountains of eliminators, the wronged title challenge and the sweet revenge not demonstrated his suitability? 

But here we are, as Jack stares down one of the best non-titlists he could have faced. Barboza is a technical boxer, like Catterall. This one could be a chess match as the two men have just 24 knockouts between them in 60 combined fights face off.

The Californian is coming off career-best wins over ex-world champion Jose Pedraza and gritty contender Sean McComb. He also holds knockout wins over former WBO kingpin Mike Alvarado and championship challenger Alex Saucedo. 

I’d argue Catterall is the best fighter he has fought, due to the fact he is closer to his peak than Pedraza was. But Barboza has boxed at a good level and holds a 30-0 record. He is 33 now and you sense he comes to Manchester to conclusively launch his title tilt. A loss here will relegate the visitor to a supporting role in his future outings.

Catterall is two years younger at 31, and could be entering a similar last-chance situation. Whyte eventually found his way to a WBC title shot against Tyson Fury. But the hunger had gone and he was summarily defeated. If Catterall loses on Saturday, you feel like the road back will be long and he might not be in his prime any longer when he does secure that chance at the belt.

It truly is now or never for both of these super lightweight superstars. Under the bright lights of the Co-op Live, someone must shape their destiny. 

Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr. Full Card

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Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr. Prediction

This one will be technical. Don’t expect fireworks, but for anyone who appreciates the sweet science at its beautiful best should have fun.

I think this is Jack’s moment. Every time I watch him I see his confidence grow. Prograis had him in trouble and he came through against a world class foe. Catterall beat Taylor in their rematch with the supreme belief of a man who knows he should already be champion of the world.

I think this is as close to a guaranteed distance-fight as you’ll find. But I believe Catterall will keep his cool, fend off some early activity from Barboza and emerge a points winner at 8/11.

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